Men’s 5000m Relay and Canada’s Olympic Short Track Speed Skating Journey

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions for Canada’s short track speed skating team, culminating in the highly anticipated men’s 5000m relay final. While the team aimed to defend their Olympic title, the Games were filled with both triumphant moments and heartbreaking near-misses.

Women’s Competition: Sarault Shines Despite a Fall

Courtney Sarault, Kim Boutin, and Danaé Blais competed fiercely in the women’s 1500m quarterfinals, striving for a place in the final. Boutin’s run ended in the semifinals, while Blais and Sarault found themselves in the B final. Sarault, despite a devastating fall in her semifinal – a race where only one skater remained upright – secured a second-place finish in the B final, a result that felt like a championship in itself.

“That’s short track for you,” Sarault explained. “It was an unfortunate race; four of us went down. Xandra [Velzeboer] and I caught the same crack in the ice, and since I’d hit someone’s blades at the start, I think I’d already stripped my edge. I was unstable from the beginning. When my one stable foot hit that crack, there was no way to recover my center of gravity.”

Despite the fall, Sarault’s Games were exceptional, earning her a total of four medals: silver in the mixed relay, silver in the 1000m, and bronze medals in the 500m and the women’s 3000m relay. “I’m still processing it, and it’s a bittersweet way to end. I wanted to go down fighting in the 1500m. I felt like I could have put up a strong fight, so it’s disappointing, but it is what it is,” she said.

Men’s 5000m Relay: A Disappointing Fourth Place

The Canadian men’s relay team, comprised of William Dandjinou, Steven Dubois, Félix Roussel, and Maxime Laoun, started strong in the 45-lap race, taking an early lead. However, they were overtaken by the Dutch and then the Italians. With 14 laps remaining, Canada fell to fourth place after being passed by South Korea. A challenging second-to-last exchange ultimately sealed their fate, finishing in fourth place despite a final push from anchor skater Dandjinou.

“I don’t even know what happened. I can just tell you we are disappointed with the result. Not the way we wanted to end the race,” said Dubois. “We are going to look at it again in the next few days and then prepare ourselves for the world championships (in March).”

This fourth-place finish was particularly tough for Dandjinou, adding to his fourth and fifth-place finishes in other events. “I didn’t even know it was possible to finish fourth that many times in one Games. My promise still stands, you’ll see me in four years,” he vowed.

Kim Boutin’s Farewell and a Legacy of Medals

The Games also marked the final Olympic race for Kim Boutin, Canada’s most decorated Winter Olympian alongside Cindy Klassen and Charles Hamelin, with six career medals (two silver and four bronze). Boutin, who plans to retire at the end of the season, expressed both emotion and pride.

“I’m really proud to have been on the circuit for so many years. It’s an honour to compete at the highest level for that long. I’m happy I did it. It wasn’t the ideal day for Canada, but they’re all incredible people I wanted to share great moments with. Unfortunately, today we experienced the tougher side of short track,” she said.

Boutin reflected on adapting her training schedule, allowing her to rediscover her passion for the sport. She also spoke about the challenge and ultimate reward of integrating into a revamped team.

“I think that’s my biggest pride — adapting to this group and building real bonds in a world of competition. You don’t realize that you’re always together. I became very attached to them, and I’ll miss them.”

Canada’s Overall Performance

Canada’s short track speed skating team concluded the Olympic fortnight with five medals. Steven Dubois’ gold medal in the 500m was a highlight, alongside the relay medals and Sarault’s individual achievements. The team’s journey was a testament to their dedication, resilience, and the unpredictable nature of short track speed skating. Team Canada Short Track Speed Skating

Sport can be both exhilarating and heartbreaking, and these Games were a poignant reminder of that for Canada’s short track speed skating team.